Dhaka: Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith on Friday said government will not withdraw the Value Added Tax (VAT) imposed on tuition fees of the private universities.

The minister made the remark after distributing food at a public children's home in Bagbari area of Sylhet to mark the 40th death anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the afternoon. 

Awami League president Badaruddin Ahmed Kamran, general secretary Asad Uddin, district Awami League general secretary Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury were also present during the food distribution programme.

After being asked by the journalists why government will not lessen the VAT on private universities, the minister angrily said, ‘They [students] can afford Tk 50,000 to 30,000 tuition fee.  Why they cannot pay 7.5per cent VAT? I don’t support their protest against the VAT imposed on their tuition fee.’

Earlier, on 4 July, the ministry of finance issued a notification imposing 7.5 per cent of VAT on the tuition fee paid by the students of private university.